CITY'S TAB TO FIND NEW CHIEF: $6,927

DELRAY BEACH -- To catch a chief, the city spent $6,927 in air fare, postage, dinners, advertising and lodgings, records showed.

"I think it was fairly inexpensive," City Manager David Harden said. The city had received estimates ranging from $12,000 to $22,000 for a nationwide police chief search by such groups as the International Association of Police Chiefs, he said.

About $4,700 of the tab was for candidate air fares and a whirlwind tour by city employees conducting background checks. Five people, including two police chiefs from central Florida who interviewed candidates, stayed at the Holiday Inn Camino Real at a cost of $501 at $54 a night.

Costs also included a city-sponsored dinner at the Rod and Gun Club for $371 and a luncheon at the Holiday Inn for $130.48.

"Considering this is the police chief, we have to do everything reasonably possible in making the right selection," Harden said. "If he spends 10 years, we'll spend a million, a million half on salary and benefits. It's a small investment," Harden said.

"Another way to look at is is what will it cost if we made a bad decision," he said.